was with the companies on the
right, led them across the wall and over an open piece of ground. He
gave the command 'Right incline,' and so well were the men in hand
that the order was promptly obeyed, shortly after which he was badly
wounded. Meanwhile, in the centre, men of all three regiments, led by
the Staff and regimental officers, dashed over the wall and began to
clamber up the steep and rocky slope. The artillery quickened its fire
and covered the crest with shrapnel. But the Boers still remained
firm. Many of them stood up, their mackintoshes waving in the wind,
and poured a deadly fire on the assaulting infantry. Though most of
these brave burghers paid for their daring with their lives, they
repulsed this first gallant charge. The Dublin Fusiliers suffered many
casualties in this first assault. Captain Lowndes, the Adjutant, had
his leg practically shattered, as he, with the other officers, ran
ahead to lead the charge. Captain Perreau was shot through the chest;
Captain Dibley was almost on the top of the hill when hit. He had a
dim recollection of the gallant Adjutant of the Royal Irish Fusiliers
racing up almost alongside him and within a few paces of the summit,
when he suddenly saw an aged and grey-bearded burgher drawing a bead
upon him at a distance of a few paces only. He snapped his revolver at
him, but only to fall senseless next moment with a bullet through his
head. Marvellous though it seems he made a comparatively speedy
recovery, and was able to ride into Ladysmith, at the head of his
company, in the following February, having been in the hospital in the
besieged town in the interval. Evidence of the temporary nature of
the discomfort caused by a bullet through the head is afforded by the
fact that he is to-day one of the best bridge-players in the regiment.
Poor young Genge, who had only recently joined, was mortally wounded,
and died shortly after the battle, killed in his first fight and in
the springtime of life.

Sergeant-Major Burke's (now Quartermaster) experiences may be best
told in his own words: 'It must have been shortly after poor Weldon
was killed that I came across "E" company; finding no officer with
them I assumed command, and on arrival at the donga handed them over
to Major Bird, and accompanied Colonel Yule, who had just arrived, and
was ascending the hill. We had only gone a few yards, and were about
six paces from the top wall, when I was bowled over, hit in the leg.
It